Palm Sunday, the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, is one of the Twelve major feast days of the Orthodox liturgical calendar. On this day, we sing as part of the Festal Tropar, these words:
Like the children with the palms of victory, we cry out to you, O Vanquisher of Death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Sr Vassa Larin, comments on our understanding of victory in Christ:
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give..a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” (Rev 2: 17) In this inspiring passage in the Book of Revelation, the Lord the Holy Spirit speaks about “the one who is victorious,” the believer who co-carries the victory of Christ’s life-giving Cross. By walking the journey of the cross on the cross’s terms, i.e., Christ’s self-giving love, humility, patience, courage and wisdom, the believer walks through life’s difficulties in the quiet victory of the Spirit. (Reflections with Morning Coffee: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy People, Kindle 1237-1242)
Sr Vassa adds:
So my Lord shows me the path of the cross, which leads to victory, in Him. It is not through avoidance or escape from my human existence, which includes hardship, difficulty, and ultimately death. The light-filled path of the cross is about walking through it all; walking through life on life’s terms, in Christ and with Christ. He brings new light to the whole picture of our human journey, on which we no longer walk in darkness. “Through the Cross joy has come into all the world. Let us ever bless the Lord, praising His Resurrection.” Amen! (Reflections with Morning Coffee: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy People, Kindle 2283-2288)
Being victorious as a disciple of Christ does not mean skating through life with ease and no problems. Victory occurs only when there are things which are defeated – sin, suffering, death. In remaining faithful to Christ through our struggles, we emerge victorious with Christ.
“I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-37)
When we plait the palm branches into crosses, we turn them into palms of victory.
Fraternized 